I have been exercising recently, and want to swim more; but I need some goggles and ear plugs.

So tonight, after church, I took the cross-town trip to Wal-Mart. I got there at 10:55, and noted that they lock one entrance at 11. No problem, they still have the other half. I first look at the TVs, then find what I need. I then go back to the TVs (yes, guys do this), glanced at the computer games, and laughed at the two college kids that were overly excited because Wal-Mart had Halo 3 in stock. I then made my way to the other half (the open half... they even close the registers on the closed half). It was 11:15.

The other half was swamped. And I don't men "wow, there are a lot of people in line, this might take a while," more of "wow, the entire city of Denton wants to leave Wal-Mart at the same time." They had only three registers open, and had at least 20 people in each line. I am not exaggerating. I counted. There were well over 10 carts waiting in each line. I am not exaggerating. I counted. I thought to myself, "OK, 75 people, 30+ carts, it will take, what 30 minutes in each line? Forget that!" So I dumped my swim-wear in the Customer Center's buggy that said "Sporting Goods" and left.

I am furious. I realized what is making me so mad: Wal-Mart doesn't care about the lines. They won't loose my business, I will just go back tomorrow or the next day to buy the exact same products. Even if I go somewhere else, they loose, what, $.50, $1.00? On the other hand, I lost 45 minutes of my time, and the gas it took me to drive across town.

I am going to send them an e-mail, but I doubt I will hear back.

EDIT: ARG! I go to Walmart.com and get this:Walmart.com Scheduled MaintenanceWalmart.com is temporarily unavailable while we make important upgrades to our site. We appreciate your patience and invite you to return soon.

I can't even complain they are so crappy!

Matthew

5
comments:

yet another reason I HATE that store.......... main reason being is ALL the thousands and thousands and thousands of small businesses they put out of business. You used to drive through small town America and see places tht had been opened for generations because it was a family owned place - now they are deserted and a Super WalMart is a block away. It makes me sick to my stomach to think of all the jobs and GOOD customer service that is out the door caz of them. I never go unless I have to - and even then I am fumming the entire time I am in there.

Matthew - did ya try your new Super Target right down the road first? Or try a sports store in your mall....... look other places first before you go back over to the 'dark side'..................

I'm not sure I agree with you mama.... isn't capitalism the basis for our economy? don't they have the right to open businesses? are we going to force them to charge more for stuff? now, I don't like them anymore than anyone else, but they are a illegitimate business.Now, I know thats not what you want to hear, but the fact of the matter is, its not their fault. It's our fault. WE shop there. WE support them. WE are lured in by their low prices. why do you think they have such low prices? Because they only have minimally open lines, dingy bathrooms, and they treat their employees terribly (aka they don't give full time employees ANY health insurance). They cut every comfort to lower the price... AND AMERICANS HAVE GOBBLED IT UP!! its our fault they put the mom and pop store out of business, we supported it at every point. Everybody complains about walmart, as they wait in line with a basket full of stuff. It seems to be the American way... complain about it, but don't DO anything about it. (and don't give me the I don't shop there' in a holier than thou tone because the we is a general one.. and yes... WE have supported walmart, otherwise they wouldn't be so stinking rich!)

Why is it that 11pm-3am are Wal Mart's busiest hours?? I noticed that too (when I was young and used to go shopping at ridiculous hours). I can't wait until the Super Target opens up near us so I can ditch that foul place forever.

And Sermon-prone-Spart; nobody said they didn't have the right to open or run their business, just that we don't like the way they run their business. I think that's fair.

And besides, I have an observation: You say that WE, Americans, are gobbling up Wal Mart, but every time I go into one, all the advertisements are in Spanish. Hmmm.

me.... sermon prone?!?!?!?!? I'm shocked and amazed that you would label me with such words.....

:)

and I know their right to exist wasn't implicit in the argument, but it's one I've heard several times so I guess I clumped it in... sorry.

and mama, yes, we go in there because its late, but again, we complain about it and then support it. If a gas station put up nasty messages about Bwige on their billboard, I wouldn't buy gas there even if I had to drive out of my way... we dislike them and their practices... but but not enough to never shop there. Ever. (And yes, I do know a man that would not even step foot in a walmart, and hes, he owned a small business they were putting out of business)

its so fun talking with family... so umm... does anyone outside our family read these things? (and obviously the Hurleys are family)